How could she possibly be at ease?
Killing a county prince, especially one with real power, was no small matter.
What’s more, Jiangxi was Qi Wang’s own territory. Old Madam Qi could hardly imagine how Qi Yuan could possibly kill a prince who held such power in his hands.
She clutched her chest and anxiously urged the old marquis, “Tell me more details! What exactly is Yuan Jie’er planning to do? I… I’m really afraid something might go wrong.”
These past few days, Old Madam Qi hadn’t been able to eat or sleep. She was truly living in a constant state of fear and anxiety.
Old Marquis Qi grasped her hand and said, “You, you! Even if you don’t trust me, you have to trust Yuan Jie’er! Has she ever said something she didn’t follow through on?”
As he spoke, he told her everything, from Qi Yuan pretending to faint from medicine to deceive Gao Qing, safely reaching Jiangxi, and all that happened afterward.
Old Madam Qi felt her scalp tingle listening to it all. At the same time, she couldn’t help but press a hand to her chest. “This girl is too ruthless!”
She wasn’t talking about how ruthless Qi Yuan was to her enemies.
Qi Yuan had always been merciless to her opponents.
What shocked and pained her was how ruthless Qi Yuan was to herself.
To think she would repeatedly take knockout drugs just to deceive Gao Qing, she was gambling with her life!
What if there were still people loyal to Eunuch Xu by Gao Qing’s side?
What if there were still those trying to kill her?
Old Madam Qi’s voice choked: “This girl really never lets people worry less!”
The old marquis couldn’t help laughing. “Listen to yourself. If she were easy to worry about, would she still be Yuan Jie’er?”
The couple let out a long sigh in unison. Then they exchanged glances, and couldn’t help but laugh again.
After the laughter faded, Old Madam Qi said softly, “I just hope everything goes smoothly for Yuan Jie’er and she can return soon.”
Let her kill Qi Wang if she must.
She knew Qi Yuan’s temperament, once she decided on something, she would never give up until it was done.
Just then, a servant knocked and entered to report: “Marquis, Madam, the Lai family has found another famous doctor to examine Third Young Master’s leg.”
At this, Old Madam Qi’s expression grew even more complicated.
Sigh. She had long since seen through Lai Chenglong’s feelings for Qi Yuan.
Honestly, as long as one wasn’t blind, it was hard not to notice how differently Lai Chenglong treated Qi Yuan.
But feelings alone weren’t enough.
Qi Yuan already had the Imperial Grandson. It was obvious she would never consider Lai Chenglong again.
She glanced at the old marquis. The old man understood what she meant and said firmly, “Yuan Jie’er is someone who knows her limits. She’s always been forthright and clear with her words. As for what others choose to do, that’s their own matter.”
If Lai Chenglong couldn’t think things through on his own, then nothing anyone said would help.
He reassured her, “No need to worry. A girl like Yuan Jie’er, there’ll be plenty of people drawn to her.”
A girl like Qi Yuan, she was one of a kind.
She was an eagle soaring across the skies, a flower blooming on the edge of a cliff.
Even if people knew they could never have her, they couldn’t help but be drawn in.
But in the end, who that flower fell to would depend on their own ability.
One thing was certain, no matter who it was, it would never be Qi Wang.
At that very moment, the much-talked-about Qi Wang suddenly sneezed hard.
He frowned, rubbing his forehead. “Eunuch Xu and the others still haven’t returned?”
Little Dongzi had gone out with Eunuch Xu, so the one currently serving him was another eunuch, Eunuch Feng, he used to serve Noble Consort Xiao Liu, but his rank couldn’t compare to Eunuch Xu.
It was only because Eunuch Xu wasn’t in the residence that Eunuch Feng had the rare chance to serve up close.
Hearing the prince’s question, he quickly replied, “Not yet, Your Highness.”
Qi Wang grew restless.
Even if they followed Eunuch Xu’s plan, first settle Qi Yuan outside the manor and have a doctor examine her, they should’ve been back in Hongdu by now, especially with the whole night behind them.
But now it was nearly noon, and still no sign?
He slapped the table. “Go find the captain of my personal guards!”
He had a bad feeling, as though something was about to go wrong.
Eunuch Feng, eager for a chance to shine, quickly agreed and was about to leave when another eunuch rushed in and pushed the door open. “Your Highness, Li Changshi and the others are back!”
They’re back! Finally back!
Qi Wang didn’t notice that Eunuch Xu wasn’t mentioned.
What mattered most to him now was whether Qi Yuan had returned.
He had spent so much effort, pulled so many strings, all just to bring her back.
Only if she returned would it all be worth it.
He rushed out, just as Li Changshi was striding quickly into the manor.
Li Changshi immediately dropped to his knees and said solemnly, “Your Highness, this subject has urgent matters to report!”
Only then did Qi Wang realize that Li Changshi had returned alone, Eunuch Xu was missing.
He frowned, a bad feeling rising in his chest.
His first reaction was, “Qi Yuan ran off?”
That woman was the most cunning!
Li Changshi quickly shook his head. “No, Your Highness, Miss Qi has already been brought back by this subject! What I need to report is about Eunuch Xu!”
He knelt down and confessed everything Eunuch Xu had done.
Including what he had witnessed firsthand, how Eunuch Xu had admitted to sending fake messages to lure Gao Qing to Gaojia Town, then sending assassins. He had also colluded with Wang Weiqi, the magistrate of Jinxian County, to try to kill both Qi Yuan and Gao Qing.
Li Changshi was still shaken. “Your Highness, if not for Lord Gao sending someone to the palace to alert you and also dispatching people to Xinjian County for reinforcements, I fear that both I and Miss Qi would’ve died at Eunuch Xu’s hands!”
Qi Wang was both shocked and furious.
He never expected that the one who had defied him behind his back would be the usually obedient Eunuch Xu!
Especially since back in the capital, he’d already sent Jinbao to secretly deal with Qi Yuan.
That d*mn eunuch!
He let out a cold laugh. “So it was him!”
It really was him.
Of course, it had to be him. Who else could’ve forged his letters?
He should’ve guessed it long ago.
But right now, he mostly felt relieved that Gao Qing had handled things well. In the final moment, he managed to hide Qi Yuan and Qiu Mama.
Otherwise, he really would’ve lost Qi Yuan forever.
He took a deep breath, then calmly spoke again. “Rise. The people of Xinjian County, rewards shall be distributed at your discretion. I won’t treat them unfairly.”
Li Changshi immediately responded gratefully.
Only then did Qi Wang anxiously ask, “Where is Qi Yuan?”
Li Changshi quickly replied, “Your Highness, Miss Qi is only unconscious from the sleeping drug, otherwise she’s unharmed. She’s currently in the carriage outside.”
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